Polish artistJakub Rozalski, also known asMr Werewolf, has a brilliant talent for reimagining early decades of the 1900s with steampunk stylings.
This artist has lovingly crafted a captivating collection of artwork loosely rooted in 1920’s Eastern Europe where the landscape has been overrun by fantastic beasts, mechanised monstrosities and all manner of wonders.
These works are available to view onhis website,Instagram accountandFacebook page. They’ve also been released in the form of hardback book and evenas Displates.
We’ve collected a sample of some of the most interesting for your viewing pleasure. Come with us on a journey through time into an alternate, sometimes terrifying, sometimes enthralling reality.
Howling at the Moon - Special Edition
Mech on the field
There’s a lot to like about this alternate vision of the past. Victorious troops (and their bear) stand proudly over their mech kill while a photographer readies to capture the vision for the history books.
We enjoy the idea that in a world where massive hulking machines are able to wander the land, seemingly ancient camera technology is all this reality can muster. Perhaps more importance is put on attacking capabilities than photography.
A walk through the woods
In this painting, we see another vision of Gunter and Nacht taking a casual stroll through the woods. A menacing tank on stilts stands in the background.
This image is also part ofa series of paintingsdesigned as concept art for agameby the name ofIron Harvest. This game is set in an alternate reality of 1920+, just after the end of the Great War and is seemingly Jakub Rozalski’s vision come to life.
Iron Fields
Jakub Rozalski’s art not only plays a part in the RTS video game, but also appeared as the theme of Scythe - a board game from 2016 that started life on Kickstarter before capturing the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide.
This gameis set in the alternate 1920s era with war, farming and massive mechs playing their part.
Before the storm
Everyone needs to eat. Even as the battle unfolds, workers are busying themselves in the fields ensuring that life is able to continue on as normal.
We like how the artist has used light here to both highlight the scene and add an extra menace to the marching mechs.
Breakfast is coming
In a wonderfully rural landscape, a Polanian crew can be seen repairing their damaged PZM-7 mech while a woman brings them something to eat.
Again, cows casually go about their business, unphased by the sounds and sights of war that have become so commonplace.
Emergency landing
A young lad looks on as an enormous airship makes an emergency landing on the outskirts of an industrial town.
Again there’s plenty of detail for the viewer to enjoy, including the appearance of another bear in the background and a blur of urgent movement from the hulking vessel.
Far from the frontline
A mech and its pilot are seen taking a well-earned rest far from the front line. The grazing sheep remarkably unfazed by the menacing machine.
This painting apparently shows a mech known as Pz. Kpfm. IV Vielfraß - a machine set to appear in the Iron Harvest game in the near future.
Guest from the west
This painting is another of Jakub Rozalski’s more interesting images, not necessarily for the content of the image but for the thought that went into it.
We also get to see the process of painting in action, thanks to the creation ofan accompanying timelapse video created usingProCreate.
Iron Harvest
This painting is another one of Jakub Rozalski’s works used as inspiration for the Iron Harvest strategy game.
The apparently fearless soldier, Anna, seen in the foreground here is set to be one of the game’s main characters and an important part of the 1920+ universe.
Take your dog for a walk
Generally speaking, taking your dog for a walk is either a pleasure or a chore depending on how much free time you have and the state of the weather. But in a world where the landscape has been burned by an angry airship, it’s certainly a foreboding journey.
This painting shows off Gunter and his companion Nacht - a dire wolf who are perplexed by the sight of their favourite forest destroyed by fire. With each of these images, Mr Werewolf gives us a taste of the dangerous world he has created. He also shows off the thoughts behind his art with extra frames (viewable on his site) showing the steps of behind each creation.
